Most outrageous quotes on the debt ceiling

By By Andy Warren and Joel Connelly

on October 10, 2013 8:52 AM

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Such right-thinking folk as House Speaker John Boehner have acknowledged it would be catastrophic for the U.S. government to default on its debt, and send tremors through a phrase good for more than two centuries — “the full faith and credit of the United States.”

Still, a few extreme voices in the U.S. Congress are toying with the unthinkable. They would use the debt ceiling decision as a cudgel to roll back health care reform. Or, they are simply in denial, conjuring up arguments with the message: Why worry? Or they rationalize not paying the nation’s bills.

Such right-thinking folk as House Speaker John Boehner have acknowledged it would be catastrophic for the U.S. government to default on its debt, and send tremors through a phrase good for more than two ... more

Photo: Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Such right-thinking folk as House Speaker John Boehner have... Photo-5063467.71831 - Houston Chronicle

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John Boehner

"The House has done its work," Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio.

"The House has done its work," Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio.

Photo: Evan Vucci, STF

"The House has done its work," Speaker of the House John... Photo-5296662.71831 - Houston Chronicle

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Sheila Jackson Lee

"This is not an idea of anyone over another person. Republican and Democratic Senators have already voted for this clean bill that we could vote on today. We have martial law. What that means - and my colleagues know what it means - is that you can put a bill on in just minutes," Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston. Read the full text of her speech here. less

"This is not an idea of anyone over another person. Republican and Democratic Senators have already voted for this clean bill that we could vote on today. We have martial law. What that means - and my ... more

"This is not an idea of anyone over another person. Republican... Photo-5026671.71831 - Houston Chronicle

“What it is in fact is a partial, temporary shutdown .... If there’s no Continuing
Resolution in effect, then what happens is non-essential government
functions are temporarily suspended. Now that’s inconvenient, but we
actually see this every single week on the weekends,” said Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. less

“What it is in fact is a partial, temporary shutdown .... If there’s no Continuing
Resolution in effect, then what happens is non-essential government
functions are temporarily suspended. Now that’s ... more

Photo: Tom Uhlman

“What it is in fact is a partial, temporary shutdown .... If... Photo-4890714.71831 - Houston Chronicle

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Harry Reid

“Now that the bill for Republicans’ own excesses
has come due – the bill for wars they supported and tax cuts they
created – they want to walk out on the check,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. less

“Now that the bill for Republicans’ own excesses
has come due – the bill for wars they supported and tax cuts they
created – they want to walk out on the check,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ... more

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, STF

“Now that the bill for Republicans’ own excesses
has come due... Photo-5168022.71831 - Houston Chronicle

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John Larson

"Do you stand with your country? Do you stand for your country? Or do you want to take it down this evening?" U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn.

"Do you stand with your country? Do you stand for your country? Or do you want to take it down this evening?" U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn.

"Do you stand with your country? Do you stand for your... Photo-3412711.71831 - Houston Chronicle

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Ted Poe

U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Kingwood, says on Twitter that Obama and Senate Democrats "have really wanted this outcome all along."

U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Kingwood, says on Twitter that Obama and Senate Democrats "have really wanted this outcome all along."

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota: "I want to state unequivocally for the world, as well as for the markets, as well as for the American people: I have no doubt that we will not lose the full faith and credit of the United States. I have no doubt there will be a final resolve . . . I will not be casting my vote for that bill . . . I cannot. I am committed to not raising the debt ceiling." less

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota: "I want to state unequivocally for the world, as well as for the markets, as well as for the American people: I have no doubt that we will not lose the full faith and ... more

Rep. Justin Amash, R-Michigan: "There's always revenue coming into the Treasury, certainly enough revenue to pay interest. Democrats have a different definition of 'default' than what we understand it to be. What I hear from them is, 'If you're not paying everything on time, that's a default. And that's not the traditionally understood definition." less

Rep. Justin Amash, R-Michigan: "There's always revenue coming into the Treasury, certainly enough revenue to pay interest. Democrats have a different definition of 'default' than what we understand it to be. ... more

Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Florida: "I think we need to have that moment where we realize we're going broke. I think, personally, it would bring stability to the world markets." (The stock market has lost four percent of its value since the federal government shutdown began last week.) less

Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Florida: "I think we need to have that moment where we realize we're going broke. I think, personally, it would bring stability to the world markets." (The stock market has lost four percent ... more

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin (left): "There is absolutely no reason at all for this type of government to default even if we don't increase the debt ceiling. So I think it's highly irresponsible of this administration to be doing the type of scare mongering they're doing on this issue." less

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin (left): "There is absolutely no reason at all for this type of government to default even if we don't increase the debt ceiling. So I think it's highly irresponsible of this ... more

Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona: "I will hear language like, 'Well, we are heading toward the deficit ceiling and you are going to default.' Anyone that says that is looking you in the eye and lying to you, either that or they don't own a calculator." less

Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona: "I will hear language like, 'Well, we are heading toward the deficit ceiling and you are going to default.' Anyone that says that is looking you in the eye and lying to you, ... more

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky: "If we don't raise the debt ceiling, what that means is you have a balanced budget. It doesn't mean you wouldn't pay your bills. We should pay the interest and we should never scare the markets. So, if I were in charge, I would say, absolutely, we will never default. I would pass a law saying that the first revenue every month, the first revenue, has to go pay interest." less

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky: "If we don't raise the debt ceiling, what that means is you have a balanced budget. It doesn't mean you wouldn't pay your bills. We should pay the interest and we should never ... more

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma: "And I would dispel the rumor that's going around that you hear on every newscast that if we don't raise the debt ceiling, we'll default on our debt. We won't. We'll continue to pay our interest, we'll continue to redeem bonds and we'll issue new bonds to replace those. So it's not entirely accurate." less

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma: "And I would dispel the rumor that's going around that you hear on every newscast that if we don't raise the debt ceiling, we'll default on our debt. We won't. We'll continue to ... more

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas: "We have in my household budget some bills that have to be paid and some bills that are only paid partially. I think interest on the debt has to be paid. I think paying Social Security payments have to be paid. I don't think paying the Secretary of Energy's travel expenses have to be paid 100 cents on the dollar." less

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas: "We have in my household budget some bills that have to be paid and some bills that are only paid partially. I think interest on the debt has to be paid. I think paying Social ... more

Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-South Carolina: "We're not going to default. There is no default. There's an (Office of Management and Budget) directive from the 1980's, the last time we got fairly close to not raising the debt ceiling, that clearly lays out the process by which the Treasury Secretary prioritizes interest payments. Tim Geithner understood that, because the last weekend of July of 2011 he was in New York City telling the primary dealers that we were not going to default on our debt." less

Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-South Carolina: "We're not going to default. There is no default. There's an (Office of Management and Budget) directive from the 1980's, the last time we got fairly close to not raising ... more

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho: "Well, in the short term, first of all, I think that any such default would be short because I don't think either party would allow that to last. I don't think it'll happen, but if it did it would be very short . . . It all depends on what it generated. If it generates some real progress toward entitlement reform and getting tax reform teed up for activity, then I think that's one of the best things that could happen for young people."
"On the other hand, if it simply in the short term generated government defaults, that's gonna be harmful. So it's kind of a long-term versus short-term view." less

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho: "Well, in the short term, first of all, I think that any such default would be short because I don't think either party would allow that to last. I don't think it'll happen, but if ... more

Last but not least, this celebration of the government shutdown.
--Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina: "We always have enough money to pay our debt service. You've had the federal government out of work for close to two weeks. That's about $24 billion a month. Every month, you have enough saved in salaries alone that you've covered three-fifths, four-fifths of the total debt service, about $35 billion a month. That's manageable for some time." less

Last but not least, this celebration of the government shutdown.
--Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina: "We always have enough money to pay our debt service. You've had the federal government out of work ... more

Last but not least, this celebration of the government shutdown.... Photo-5302434.71831 - Houston Chronicle